Starting on Tuesday, July 10th at 2:00 p.m. ET, we’re kicking off our DID YOU KNOW about Windows Server 2012 Contest for Microsoft Partners. During the contest you’ll have the opportunity to demonstrate your knowledge of the great new capabilities in Windows Server 2012 with System Center 2012 by being the first to provide the correct answers to three questions posted daily on the Server & Cloud blog. Included below are links to other places where you can find contest information.

How to participate:

All Microsoft Partners are eligible. There will be two separate opportunities to win one of six prizes, including two Smartphone Battery Extenders, two portable Pico Projectors and two sets of Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones by answering three questions posted on July 10th and three more questions posted on July 11th. You’ll only be eligible to win once though.

You will also need an email account to participate if you don’t already have one (available for free at http://www.hotmail.com). Using your email account you’ll need to be ready to email your answers to Know2012@microsoft.com.

How to play:

On July 10th we’ll post one question per hour, starting at approximately 2:00 p.m. EDT here on the Server & Cloud blog. We’ll post the second question at 3:00 p.m. EDT, and the third at 4:00 p.m. EDT on the same day. We’ll repeat this process on July 11th.

Using your existing knowledge or by visiting the Did You Know website (www.DidYouKnow2012.com), you’ll have the information at your fingertips to find the correct answers to all three questions. Once you have the answers, send us a single Email Message directly to Know2012@microsoft.com with all three answers and Your Name, Country of Residence and Employer (if applicable). The first three people to submit all three correct answers in a single Email Message to Know2012@microsoft.com will win the prizes for the day.

Please note: Each answer is designed to be answered in less than two 30-word sentences, so if you answer is longer than two 30-word sentences (or atotal of 60 words) it must be incorrect.

Announcing the Winners:

Once we have three daily winners, we’ll post the correct answers on the Server & Cloud blog blog. We’ll also notify the winner via direct Email Message. Remember, you can only win once but you can also enter one time each day.

While the Did You Know website (www.DidYouKnow2012.com) will contain all of the facts you’ll need, some of the other sites with helpful information will include:

Employees of MPN partners, 18 years and over (see rules for full details) can play so mark your calendars and check back here on July 10thfor another blog post officially kicking off the contest.

MICROSOFT DID YOU KNOW ABOUT WINDOWS SERVER 2012 CONTEST OFFICIAL RULES

COMMON TERMS USED IN THESE RULES:

These are the official rules that govern how the Microsoft ”DID YOU KNOW ABOUT WINDOWS SERVER 2012” contest promotion will operate (“Contest”).

In these rules, “we,” “our,” and “us” refer to Microsoft Corporation, the sponsor of this Contest. “You” refers to an eligible Contest entrant.

CONTEST DESCRIPTION:

This is a skill-based Contest. The object of this Contest is to be the first person to correctly answer questions related to Microsoft virtualization, system management, or cloud computing.

WHAT ARE THE START AND END DATES?

This Contest starts at 2:01 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on July 10th, 2012, and ends at 11:59 p.m. ET on July 11th, 2012 (“Entry Period”). The Entry Period consists of two separate prize periods.

Period 1 begins at 2:00 p.m. ET on July 10th and ends at 11:59 p.m. ET on July 10th.

Period 2 begins at 2:00 p.m. ET on July 11th and ends at 11:59 p.m. E T on July 11th.

CAN I ENTER?

You are eligible to enter this Contest if you meet the following requirements at time entry:

You are an employee of a company that is actively enrolled in the Microsoft Partner Network (MPN) and;

You are NOT an employee of Microsoft Corporation or an employee of a Microsoft subsidiary; and

You are NOT involved in any part of the administration and execution of this Contest; and

You are NOT an immediate family (parent, sibling, spouse, child) or household member of a Microsoft employee, an employee of a Microsoft subsidiary, or a person involved in any part of the administration and execution of this Contest.

This Contest is void outside the geographic area described above and wherever else prohibited by law.

HOW DO I ENTER?

During each Prize Period three different trivia questions will be posted online on the Server & Cloud Blog. To enter you must send an email message to Know2012@microsoft.com with the correct answer to all three questions within each Prize Period.

We will only accept two (2) entries per person per Prize Period. We are not responsible for entries that we do not receive for any reason, or for entries that we receive but are not decipherable for any reason.

We will automatically disqualify:

Any incomplete or illegible entry; and

Any entries that we receive from you that are in excess of the entry limit described above.

WINNER DETERMINATION AND PRIZES

The first three people to correctly answer, in the judge’s sole opinion, all three (3) trivia questions for each Prize Period will win the one of the following prizes:

Day 1:Each winner will receive a Smartphone Battery Extender (Approximate Retail Value $80 each) or Pico Projector (Approximate Retail Value $399 each) (the first two entries received will win the projectors, the third the smartphone battery extender)

Day 2:Each winner will receive a Smartphone Batter Extender (Approximate Retail Value $80 each) or Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones (Approximate Retail Value $300 ea) (the first two entries received will win headphones, the third the smartphone battery extender)

Total Retail Value of all prizes awarded: $1,558.

Limit one prize per person during the Entry Period.

The decisions of the judges are final and binding. If we do not receive a sufficient number of entries meeting the entry requirements, we may, at our discretion, select fewer winners than described above.

If you are a potential winner, we will notify you by sending a direct tweet message to the email account used to submit the winning entry within seven days following completion of judging. If the notification that we send is returned as undeliverable, or you are otherwise unreachable for any reason, we may award to a runner-up.

If there is a dispute as to who is the potential winner, we will consider the potential winner to be the authorized account holder of the email address used to enterthe Contest. If you are a potential winner, we may require you to sign an Affidavit of Eligibility, Liability/Publicity Release and a W-9 tax form or W-8 BEN tax form within 10 days of notification. If you are a potential winner and you are 18 or older, but are considered a minor in your place of legal residence, we may require your parent or legal guardian to sign all required forms on your behalf. If you do not complete the required forms as instructed and/or return the required forms within the time period listed on the winner notification message, we may disqualify you and select a runner-up.

If you are confirmed as a winner of this Contest:

You may not exchange your prize for cash or any other merchandise or services. However, if for any reason an advertised prize is unavailable, we reserve the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value; and

You may not designate someone else as the winner. If you are unable or unwilling to accept your prize, we may award it to a runner up; and

If you accept a prize, you will be solely responsible for all applicable taxes related to accepting the prize; and

If you are otherwise eligible for this Contest, but are considered a minor in your place of residence, we may award the prize to your parent/legal guardian on your behalf; and

Unless otherwise noted, all prizes are subject to their manufacturer’s warranty and / or terms and conditions.

We will only award one (1) prize per person.

WHAT OTHER CONDITIONS AM I AGREEING TO BY ENTERING?

By entering this Contest you agree:

To abide by these Official Rules; and

To release and hold harmless Microsoft and its respective parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, employees and agents from any and all liability or any injury, loss or damage of any kind arising from or in connection with this Contest, or any prize won; and

That Microsoft’s decisions will be final and binding on all matters related to this Contest; and

That, by accepting a prize, Microsoft may use of your proper name and state of residence online and in print, or in any other media, in connection with this Contest, without payment or compensation to you, except where prohibited by law.

WHAT LAWS GOVERN THE WAY THIS CONTEST IS EXECUTED AND ADMINISTRATED?

This Contest will be governed by the laws of the State of Washington, and you consent to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the courts of the State of Washington for any disputes arising out of this Contest.

WHAT IF SOMETHING UNEXPECTED HAPPENS AND THE CONTEST CAN’T RUN AS PLANNED?

If someone cheats, or a virus, bug, catastrophic event, or any other unforeseen or unexpected event that cannot be reasonably anticipated or controlled, (also referred to as force majeure)affects the fairness and / or integrity of this Contest, we reserve the right to cancel, change or suspend this Contest. This right is reserved whether the event is due to human or technical error. If a solution cannot be found to restore the integrity of the Contest, we reserve the right to select winners from among all eligible entries received before we had to cancel, change or suspend the Contest.

If you attempt to compromise the integrity or the legitimate operation of this Contest by hacking or by cheating or committing fraud in ANY way, we may seekdamages from you to the fullest extent permitted by law. Further, we may ban you from participating in any of our future Contest, so please play fairly.

HOW CAN I FIND OUT WHO WON?

We will post the names of winners who received a prize worth $25.00 or more online on the Server & Cloud blog. This list will remain posted one month after July 11th, 2012.

Thank you for your question. This is a global contest for registered Microsoft MPN partners, unless your particular country has restrictions that would preclude involvement; all registered Microsoft MPN partners can participate.

Thank you for your question. This is a global contest for registered Microsoft MPN partners, unless your particular country has restrictions that would preclude involvement; all registered Microsoft MPN partners can participate.

Thank you for your question. This is a global contest for registered Microsoft MPN partners, unless your particular country has restrictions that would preclude involvement; all registered Microsoft MPN partners can participate.

Thank you for your question. This is a global contest for registered Microsoft MPN partners, unless your particular country has restrictions that would preclude involvement; all registered Microsoft MPN partners can participate.

Thank you for your question. This is a global contest for registered Microsoft MPN partners, unless your particular country has restrictions that would preclude involvement; all registered Microsoft MPN partners can participate.

Thank you for your question. This is a global contest for registered Microsoft MPN partners, unless your particular country has restrictions that would preclude involvement; all registered Microsoft MPN partners can participate.